Food Bank 12/13/2011

Today, Alexia,Wuli, Luke and I headed out with a few boxes to pass out. We spent most of the morning doing this. Our first momma is a single mom to 3 boys. She is divorced due to domestic violence. She made it through those first years with one baby on her back, one in a stroller and holding on to ones hand while walking around collecting cardboard boxes. Today she is doing a bit better, but still struggles. We found out that her and her boys had been bathing in cold water because she didn't have the $25US to buy a new tank of propane gas. Thank the Lord, through donations, we were able to help her get a tank of gas right away. Hugs and encouragment lifted the spirits of this young momma. Her oldest is diagnosed ADHD and other two go to therapy for developmental delays. She is doing her best.

Keeping a family together, no matter what is so important. We have single parents and both parent families. Just a word of encouragement, a hug, a smile, letting them know you DO care, it means so much. Sometimes even more than the food you bring!

This past week we received 6 blankets and 300kilos of rice!! The donators dropped it off across the street. We moved it bag by bag....about 30kilos per bag! Go Alexia!! we train our MLCA women:-)

Grandparents in Taitung often are left with the care of their grandchildren. Children's parents may or many not be married, may or may not send money home. So often, the grandparents, even with health problems, are often left struggling to take care of their grandkids. This couple is so sweet. Grandpa was almost in tears and saying "too much!" They had come to town, over an hour one way via scooter!!

While we normally distribute food, someone sent all these umbrellas!! This is awesome and a gift no one normally thinks about.

What we came back to after distributing our last boxes!!

Did you complain today about what you don't have? This momma cleaned up before we came!!

A very happy 3 year old playing with a toy given. Joy and excitment.

A reporter went with us today, one question he asked Luke was:"how come you all seem to have such a good relationship with your clients? I don't see this often, and I see alot of stories." I thought that was an interesting observation. I thanked God that HE allowed this reporter to see this difference! It is because of God we can do this, that is the difference. We are not doing this for pictures or for recognition, nope, we are doing it because God put it there before us!

Matthew 25:35-40

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Thanksgiving....2011

This year, Thanksgiving we had two extras.....Bethany and our foster daughter, Yi Mei. We didn't scramble or worry about getting a turkey, we had KFC:-)   YEAH!! along with that, garlic bread, broccili, apple crisp, mashed potatoes and the kids made pumpkin spice cookies (thanks to a family who sent Betty Crocker!!). It was a great time of noise (well, that is normal at my house) and just eating away. We didn't have a humungous get together. We are going to try to go to the English fellowship on Sunday and spend some time with friends there.

The kids and Bethany colored turkey to decorate our kitchen door. I understand they reinacted the Thanksgiving story with Anna as the turkey....should have that on record!!LOL!

Since it is not a holiday in Taiwan, I did have to spend some time in the center. I did have to take a momma to court for an adoption hearing. The staff sent me home later saying it is an American holiday GO HOME!! Luke and I went shopping by ourselves!! rarity!

My post on facebook captured alot: this Thanksgiving we are so thankful to be celebrating in spirit with so many people! We are thankful to the Lord for his protection and guidance this past year, but most of all HIS promises of being with us through it all. We have been through alot, we have gotten to know so many families and friends who encourage and support this ministry. Thank the Lord, not just on Thanksgiving for all HE has done and all HE is still planning to do.
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

ｊｕｓｔ ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ ｗｅｅｋ：）

If you saw my facebook post today, you will know it has been a week. In many ways, we are so excited to see what God is doing, yet at times due to tension still there, we feel like we have to look over our shoulder or becareful of what we say and where we go. But, thinking about that feeling, it is not right. We have done nothing wrong and are in God's will. Why be afraid? God has brought so much to us knowing we can handle it, why not just leave it in HIS hands.

A former momma came by this week to see me. She messaged me on facebook to see if I was there. Honestly, that day, I was busy and tired. But I told her I had to leave in 15min, so if she could be here before then, okie dokie. She was there in 5 min flat!! She comes in saying "Shr Mu....I need a hug!!"  Gave her a hug, held her, let her cry and talked to her. Her boyfriend (only one in the past year) had broken up with her. There were many reasons, and we all saw it coming. Nothing really major, just broke up. She is feeling alone, sad, rock bottom. She has a 3yr old, no job and one month left on her place to stay. Talk about lonely. We talked some and then I had to go about my meeting.

Later that day, I was thinking about her. There are mixed opinions about are we holding on, are we helping her? Some say we are not letting her stand up for herself and she is relying on others too much, especially me (gee....I often here that...I help too much!LOL!). I don't know really what to think. I do know that God has her continuing to come to us when she is down and lonely, I do know she has been coming to church regularly, and I do know she is needing help. Physical help as in a job, child care and paying for things, no I cannot do that, but emotional and spiritual help....I will stay by her side as long as it takes!

We welcomed a new baby in the world yesterday. He has a wonderful family  already. Being at births are bitter sweet. So excited for the new babies, the new lives. Hearing a baby cry for the first time is so exciting. But then I look down on the momma who is trying to be tough and not cry, or looks away. We try to comfort them, but no matter what it is still hard for them. They just went through hours of pain and labor, then delivery, but will be leaving with empty arms and an aching heart. Their decisions are ones that are so brave. Not having an abortion for one, then facing family, normally  being kicked out of the house or arrangements made for them to live elsewhere til birth. This momma was lucky, her family came to visit her at the hospital. But that is a rarity.

It is times like this when I am so thankful that I have a Heavenly Father who I know wraps ＨＩＳ　ａｒｍｓ　ａｒｏｕｎｄ　ｍｅ　ａｎｄ　ｃｏｍｆｏｒｔｓ　ｍｅ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｏｎｅ　ｅｌｓｅ　ｃａｎ。　Ｔｈａｎｋ　ｙｏｕ　Ｌｏｒｄ！！

We have been busy!!

Well, hope everyone is busy spreading the news about our fundraiser!!Can't wait to see who won what and how things are going. This first one doesn't seem to have made an affect, but slowly but surely, things will get moving.

It seems that I can't figure out a good color and blog design. This is not my cup of tea, so please all bear with me!! Adding on the next few days we have people and guests coming out our ears:-).  Then when that is all done, Luke goes for a ministry trip to China, to teach to the underground Bible Institute. He was asked "How do you tell God's will and and God's plan?" by a student via chat room last week.....glad he is the teacher and not me!! 0.0

Well, two babies met their forever families and will be at AIT later this week. So happy!! And as God has it planned, one newborn came in and another due any day. God has been good in keeping us busy!! Please pray for mommas and babies as they get adjusted, each a different way.



This weekend we received a phone call from an organization who said they had a hotline phone call. The 20+ year old momma is in the beginning of her 2nd trimester, kicked out of hom and boyfriend broke up with her. She had told our hotline person she would sleep at a friends house and then come here by train. Though when she got here she said she ended up sleeping at a 7/11 with her friend accompanying her. She is living in a fairy tale. Denial, that's what it is right now. She is denying that there are issues. Her parents will want her back, her boyfriend will think all is ok. She immediately said "no adoption." We said we never thought that!!! our purpose to give mommas in crisis a safe haven, physically, emotionally and spiritually during this time. We offer, in fairness, counseling in both, but there is no requirement. I think she was like "OH".  She has a way to go. She needs prayer though.



Morning Light Christian Association is working on it's first fundraiser here. We are going to do a Pizza DIY (that is the plan!). Pray for us as we hate to and don't really have the man power to do all this, but at this point, it is much needed.  We have some ideas for moms to get some things done and all. So please pray. We really do need coworkers, but we just can't pay them!!



What fundraisers could you all do?

Look what the mommas have been doing....

 Our wonderful mommas have been busy. Our 3 mommas and a single momma have been busy learning the art of cross stitching. They have done Christmas coasters! We are taking orders:-)......

1 set has 6 coasters

1 set = $10

 

Let me know if you want to order them...

mommas......

Well, my Friday was long and was so glad to finally get home! I did find out that our 3 mommas had their prenatals. Two are very close to delivery and one has a bit to go. One is having a c/section and was very happy to hear the dr say, no exercising or anything strenous before your surgery date. Now she has an excuse:p The other, well, she is doing well, hanging on and has swollen feet. But she is doing well. Our other momma, due to previous situation from last year, she is here on trial period. Dr has told her (again) that baby is too small, she is anemic and she needs to take care of herself. Other than us force feeding her, there is only so much that we can do. We watch her intake and all, but she has to want it too.
Unfortunately, this is a mentality we have seen again and again. Momma comes to us in second trimester, which is too late for an abortion, or the abortion would be too expensive and they can't afford it. So, she doesn't really WANT the baby, she can't have an abortion so she just goes on with life. If she takes care of HER body that is fine, but she doesn't want the baby, so why bother really. It is such a selfish mentality. Though, on the other hand, it is a way of "ignoring it and it will go away." They can't keep the baby, so do anything they can to be as distant as possible. It is sad.

I have given a book "When Trouble Comes" to a single momma who has been coming to church. She is one of our "graduates". She has agreed to go through it with me. PLEASE PRAY that she will meet with me. I really feel that her spirit is getting closer to opening up and her seeing her need of a Savior. Pray for Irene.

This week will be busy as usual. Pray as we meet with a non resident as well.

To God be the glory GREAT things HE has done......and will do!

Deana

This is the day....

"This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Well, today we took Bethany to get her paperwork figured out. I am so glad we don't have to travel hours and hours away like in some countries, but stupid issues, we have them here too.

First, the volunteers there were instisting on speaking English with me and didn't look happy when I was like "WHAT? you need 6 copies of the passport?" She was like NO!! print....she was TRYING to say xerox copy but it was not sounding like that!!

Then Bethany takes all her paperwork out (that she thought she left in the USA but found it here!!) and Mr. Chen, head of something at Foreign Affairs was like "oh, do you know Hillary Clinton? she needs to sign your paper, this no have her sign." He was trying to be funny in an unfunny way meaning, Secretary of State signature. YEAH! they NOW say that, oh, she needs to have her fingerprints checked by FBI. -.-  never a dull moment here.......poor Bethany.......I wanted to cry for her. SO I will be up at AIT tomorrow with a momma (birth mom interview)  and ask them about it or if they have the forms or whatever. So totally annoying!

So, then Alexia comes back this afternoon. Had two phone calls that were rather, um, not unpleasant, just like "is everyone in a high position here on drugs?!" (ok, that was very unChristian like, but sometimes you wonder!). First, the form we were given to refill out about how many moms we have had here the past three months, we did. We filled it out according to what they gave us.......well, it wasn't what they WANTED.  They also gave out the wrong email, so we can't just get the exact form they wanted.......are you confused? I am!! Last week they sent us paperwork saying they redid the form, we copied that as they wrote it because they never emailed their form to us. We did the paperwork and took it over, now they say it is not the right format.......seriously wonder if they are trying to cause problems here (wouldn't be suprised!)

THEN the paperwork for our association... get this......we have to have "stand by" for our committee members so if something tragic happens and we need a replacement, then we have one. Well, we were informed that we had two on standby and there could only be one -.- so we had like 30min to redo that paper with one persons name on it, not two.....thank the Lord Alexia keeps good paperwork trails. She was on it and did it right away!!WOOHOOO!!!!!

But this is how my day has been......how was yours? :-)

Double Ten....

Yesterday was "Double Ten Celebration" 10/10 is the day marking Taiwan's 100th Birthday.

Our moms didn't do anything special, just stayed at home, our family went to lunch out in the rain:p

Yup, it rained all day.

Today, 10/11, we got back to work. Met at the office, had a staff meeting. Though as I think about it now, we did not start or end in prayer. Unfortunately, I am being quite honest and saying that it seems when we have meetings things pop up and people running back and forth and we forget about prayer. We need to start a regular meeting time and starting with prayer!!

Saturday we had a new momma move in. She looks sooooooooooooo young.....well.....she is! She is 21yrs old. Lynn (I call her that) thought her long time boyfriend would want the baby and her, but well, as the story goes........nope. Her family kept her at home as long as possible til neighbors started getting suspicious. So she moved in on Saturday. That makes 3 mommas we have right now.

I was looking back over our monthly reports, and it seems we average 5 mommas a month, though not at one time. It seems there has not been a month since Chinese New Year where we have NOT had a momma living in the home. Unfortunately, the home is old and the weather here is humid. We repainted  the first two floors back in February, and now they are starting to bubble and peel.....great! So we are possibly looking for a new place. There are a few issues we are working out and how we can do this under our new association. But we know  God will work it out. We also know that this is a work that cannot stop. Too many mommas need a place to live, a place to care for them.

Pray for our current mommas: Lynn, Judy and Baby (that is what she says her name is -.-)

pray they can stay healthy physically and we can heal them spiritually.

Oil in my lamp....

This is a ministry is not for the faint of heart. There are times when you just want to smack people, and times when you don't know if you are coming or going. Times when you really want to go to a seminar, but for some reason God puts things in the way and you just follow God's leading.

A mom called, we had talked to her before. The "story" was that she was pregnant with another man's baby and her husband didn't want the baby. I followed up with this momma on Friday. Well, not what it seems. Baby is her husbands, but she wants a divorce because he is too traditional.....more or less meaning that her (21yr old with a 3yr old and now pregnant) idea is to just have fun, where her husband's idea (he is 30yr old and working, they have been married for one year!) is she needs to be responsible. So, she ended up hanging up on me. Another story for that book in the making!!LOL! (she was the one I wanted to smack....very immature!)

But later, a former mom who adopted her baby out, came by. She does every so often. She told me the funniest thing (she didn't think it was funny....she was quite serious.) She went to the temple the other to do the ritual (long story), and she saw someone she faintly knows, but the lady was crying and all and so our momma, Ah Fen, went and talked with her. The lady was in despair of some issues and contemplating suicide, she had no one to talk to so she came to the temple to talk to Matzu (Sea goddess), but she felt the sea goddess was ignoring her (uh...duh!! yeah...it is a block of wood or metal decorated well!). So Ah Fen tells her she can tell her problems to the foreign pastor's wife (me!!LOL!!) and told her story. The lady is like "so they will talk to non Christians?" yeah!! but churches ask for money and I don't have money.......Ah Fen told her, well, they have never asked for money and I have eaten there alot (she tends to come to potlucks!!LOL!). The lady said she had been at a church for a bit but when she ran out of money, she was asked to leave (ok...that is the 3rd time I have heard of a story like that!). So anyway, Ah Fen was like "Shrmu (what I am called in Chinese, means Pastors wife!LOL!) I may have talked her into coming on Sunday." Though Ah Fen might not come-.-

But I was excited to see that we had made an influence on her that she could and would tell others to talk to the "foreign Shrmu".

See, that is what we are here for!! Making an influence!!God knew I needed that at that time.

Pray was we reach out to another momma this week. She will be with us a short time, so pray we can have an influence on her!!

We still need Morning Light Angels!!   

To Give or Not To Give

As you know our ministry, Morning Light Home, is having a fundraiser. I know, you are probably think "yeah, yeah, yeah....you are always asking for money." Well, I feel like that too! On this end of things, I will be quite honest and let you know that I abosultely hate asking for money or donations, seriously.....it is like begging I feel. But at the same time, I feel that the Christian family needs to be made aware of the needs of the ministry here and pray about how God can use them in the ministry.

It is very hard finding funds. We started this ministry at our house 2 years ago. Then we "partnered" with a Christian organization that was "so excited" about the helping the women here in Taiwan. The organization had an inhouse agency that did adoptions. Crisis pregnancy center, adoptions, they went hand in hand, no problem. But towards the end of last year, we were beginning to not have peace anymore under the agency as they were giving pressure in areas that we felt were not necessary. After much prayer, counsel and thought, we chose to step out on faith and leave them. Especially after we asked "I thought we were partners" and that was taken off the website, and we were told "we are your boss." We do appreciate the time that we were under them and we learned alot. We humbly backed down and decided to let God be our boss and help us fight our Goliath's.

                                                                                   http://www.goodmanphotography.com/

Taiwan is not a third world country. You can not make it on $30US a month here. That would pay for a month of national insurance, but leave you with $5US for the rest of the month. To rent a small room is $60US, one gallon of milk is $7US+ (ask me how I know!). Taiwan on the outside looks like a developed country, but on the inside it is not. It is a country covered by the dark cloud of Satan's lies and sin. It is a country where abortion is birht control. It is a country where 40%of adult married women have had an abortion and 50% of unwed adult women have had one. It is a country where the live birth rate is 166,00 in 2010, yet the yearly abortion rate is 300,000-500,00. A country where last year 3,000 babies were aborted just becaue they were girls.

Taiwan has a population of 23+million, yet there are only 3 crisis pregnancy centers. Praise God we are all Christian centers. There are family counseling centers that counsel moms to abort. So you can see how important our work is? it is a spiritual warfare to say the least. In our ministry,the only home on the east coast of Taiwan, we have ministered to over 100 mommas in these 2 years. That means over 100 babies saved from the awful pain of an abortion, and 100 mommas saved from the spiritual issues involving an abortion. We have heard many times over, "I am so glad you all are doing this, where else would I go?". Families ignore them or cast them out of the house, friends slowly go away, boyfriends abandon them, they can't get a job, no place to live. That is why we are here, ministering those that no one wants to minister, yet at a crucial time in their lives.

You can probably see from the above the urgency in getting our funding to keep this ministry going. Even if you just donate $5US, that is helpful. The blog has items you can donate and get a chance to win. Or you can be a Morning Light Angel and support us for as much as you can. You can send it through paypal (panshrmu@yahoo.com) or you can get our mission agency address on the blog.

                                                             

While not every Christian is called into the mission field or this type of ministry, Christians are called to help. Please pray about what part God would have you do in protecting the lives of the unborn.



Til the Trumpet Sounds,

Deana, Alexia, Wuli
Morning Light Staff

Past and Present

These are past moms, not current ones but this is a blast from the past:-)
These mommas, their babies were adopted by great families, and will be 2yr old soon. Yet, these mommas keep in contact with us. We pray that these moms have great memories while with us. Here they are eating "hot pot" for lunch.

 small plants.....giving them something to do....we have these at the office here. This activity is really theraputic, allows them to relax and chat. Then as the plants grow, they have a sense of accomplishment.

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Our recent girls have been busy doing these crafts!

Birthday party for one of our girls!!! fun times(past mommas)

And on we go....

I feel like I should post, but not sure what to post............so, this is a personal post instead of directly ministry oriented......

Family:  SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED that our beloved Miss Bethany (Jie-jie...means big sister) is coming.She will be here a week from Friday..YEAH!! she is going to visit some friends of hers and get over jetlag (easier said than done!LOL!) and we will set up the stuff and what she feels will work for her. Then October 3rd school starts! The boys have been working on reading and math, I just don't have the umpf to do all of it when I get home. I am so thankful for my family. Sometimes I get worried.....my kids, in all reality are behind in comparison with their peers, both American and Taiwanese, in education. Being bilingual is far from easy. I mean, they can read well in Chinese, the oldest two can read in English (when they want something!LOL!)....Noah, well, he is Noah!! But, they are happy (ok, except for the bickering part....I just think my kids bicker more than most ....annoying!!). But yet, my oldest is working!! what started out as a volunteer (well, mommy volunteered him!!LOL!)at a local vet's office, we know the family and they are cool! they love him so much and how he works that they pay him. He turns 13yr old on 9/10 and he has a job!!!WHAHHHHH.....what other kids can do that? My other two are learning things little by little, sure math, they know (especially when dealing with money). Shakespeare and Mozart or all that stuff....no, they currently don't know it.....maybe some day....They are not illerates either....ok, sounds like I am trying to make myself sound good. I am so thankful for my family and my kids. My kids have never complained why they have to be the ones to open the doors at church, turn on all the lights and fans and all that getting ready stuff while mom goes and picks up mommas for church and dad is preaching at another church. They haven't complained why mommy gets busy, why is daddy in China again. They haven't complained (yet anyway), why we have two teen girls living at our house. I love my kids!!! God has given us great kids. When you pray for your own kids, pray for missionary kids.....they need it as much if not more! they, like pastor's kids, share so much of their parents with others, it is unbelievable. Extra prayer for strength and wisdom is greatly appreciated.

On another note, our landlord (our family home) is sick and wants to sell her house. We have no money to buy a house. But we aren't being kicked out right away either, just kinda the....great, when do we look for a house. I love our house right now......Today Luke said a lady who is a friend of our landlord wants to buy it and stopped by today to ask if we were going to buy it. For $250,000US, no...don't think so. We have to find a big house with our budget......so pray for us, do not need nor want this stress at this time.

Hmmm.....

Well, Luke has been back a few days and so my brain can finally function. I will admit that the two weeks he was gone seemed like an eternity..................I admit exhaustion!!! And those who know me, that is not something I do often:p

Monday started off with a bang and the rest of the week has followed suit. Monday we had a case that we have been talking to via hotline. Well, she called to say she was at our front door 0.0  So we all ran down to meet her. She is a sweetie. Her story is sweet and sad, and unique.

See, this mom is a Christian and has a 19month old with the same man. She says that her mom (single mom) was hurt alot over the first baby, she can't bare to tell her about the second one. Her church forgave her and took her under their wings, allowed her to serve with the teens at church. She feels HOW can she serve now at church? what about the testimony to the teens? what will people say? Being at church is so hard for her.

The father? He is not a Christian and at first was saying marriage ONLY if she stopped going to church, stopped being a Christian and did the temple worship and held incense and all. She said no. He said bye. His parents? sure get married, have an abortion and start anew....that was a new one!! Never heard get married and then have an abortion......whatever.

She is struggling with her faith as she has falled AGAIN. She has one person at church (Charasmatic) who knows and says we need to have some type of healing/repentance prayer. Now, Luke and I were talking to our team, repentance prayer is nothing we can do for her, it has to come from her heart, not ours. We can pray God leads her in prayer, softens her heart and opens her heart to what she needs. I cannot say she is not a Christian, that is not for me to say. But I can pray for her.

This is the 2nd young Christian momma we have had recently. Both have hidden from church and fear of what church members say. That so breaks my heart. Unfortunately, churches around the world are so judgemental that they turn people away. I am sure you can think of someone in your church who has had a baby out of wedlock, how did your church handle it? how did you? Should we as Christians be able to handle it better? God has forgiven us accepted us, should we do the same for others?

What her final decision will be with the baby, we don't know for sure. She is early on in her pregnancy. The great news is that she knows she WILL NOT abort!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! she has thought about it, but she says she has nightmares then.....um....yeah..... the important part is that here she can work through issues and move on. We pray that here she can come closer to the Lord and see HIS purpose in all of this.  We pray that our mommas can be changed when they leave her!!
Pray with us as we work with them!

our schedule begins....

Well, today we got an email and a phone call from our first "booking" for the semester. We were asked to go to Chang Bing Junior High School, with a total of 120 students for the entire school. Grades are 7-9th grade. Last year was our first year teaching. This school is awesome. At our Respect Life Rally we had tents for people to sell things. Well, this school decided to make crafts and  sell them. At the end of the rally, they brought the entire days worth of money and donated it to  Morning Light. It was almost $100US!!!
Now, you are probably saying "oh, wow". But let me tell you.....this group of students and teachers had to travel by bus or car. It is almost 3hours ONE WAY!!! they paid for the trip themselves....left EARLY in the morning to come and didn't get home til late. Many come from rural area (well, ok...ALL as there is no train that even goes there!! only a bus!!). Now, are you saying "OH WOW!!!" we were quite encouraged by them.
So, when we saw their email......we immediately let them know YES!!! so excited. This school is right on the water, beautiful scenery. But being so far out in the country, they are the last to get money so the school is rather pathetic with leaks and broken things and all. Honestly, we are excited to go there and visit. It will be for a long day, but worth it.

Our banner runs next week in our neighboring county. Please pray for this. Normally each time it runs, we get at least one phone call. Now that abortion month is coming up, we are hoping to rescue more babies.

Pray that we can get more people in our area on the "anti abortion" team. Unforutnately, many churches tell people it is the mom's body and she can do what she wants. Yes, this comes from pastors and taught at seminary!!! scary eh? we are praying about being more vocal in the community about pro life. Pray that we can do that and it not cause any problems!!

Still need Morning Light Angels.......the angels will cover the costs of the Unwed mother's home so we can continue to have our services for free!! so please consider what you can do.

8/20

***I just had a big post all done and all, but erased it....it might seem overwhelming:p.... normally when I say...I have been thinking, everyone runs ---LOL!!!

On 8/20 we have the last of our two meetings to form our association. Morning Light Christian Association will be formal and then we just go on from there:-). Why are we doing this? According to statistics Taitung population is 20% of single parents. Though this does NOT include grandparents taking care of grandchildren, disabled parents and low income families.  The need is great. Unfortunately, it seems that helping  certain people in society is a fad. I have seen a trend. Everyone gung ho on getting "healthy lunches" to the villages. It happens for a year or two....then slowly money is placed somewhere else. Right now a big thing on helping single parents, and I am sure in a few years, that it will change to something else. Haven't heard of those helping drop out teens (a rarity), just like places like to cover up unwed mothers. Seems that things that might "bring disgrace" to the county or city are quietly done. But things that are done to help make the politician look good are done LOUDLY.............this is a topic that bugs me......so I will stop here:p

These ministries will be with the church and our new association.MLCA wants to do more. Simple. Through MLCA we can get better grants from USA and Taiwan, we can do fundraising within Taiwan and well, we can work more with those in need. Our ministries will be Garden of Grace (daycare for needy families), Blessings Food Closet (not the official name), after school classes for children of low income and single parents, and an office working with in need teenagers (aka, drop outs and dysfuntional families.).....The last one is a need that is great.  I was personally approached by a judge asking if we accepted teens! The gov't has had such a big problem with teens recently that they do not know what to do. So we have plans (don't I always!!LOL!).....so prayers.

WE WILL CONTINUE to do our MLH/CPC. According to the gov't, this is private home so we don't need money (HAHAHA!! if they only knew!). Just our resources will be spread out more, our opportunities to reach out to the forgotten people will be greater. So keep your eyes and ears open...and your hearts!!

saddened.....but encouraged

Don't you just love it when our Heavenly Father speaks to us and shows us things at the right moment? Just so awesome....shows how much HE loves us!!

This week has been hard. We have had a 17yr old who gave birth already and a 14yr old special needs student who is 7 months pregnant under our ministry at Morning Light. Both cases have given our team a not to great view of the gov't, though we know they have restricitions due to finances and honestly help. Anyway, both, due to their were reported (in Taiwan, girls who are pregnant but under 16 must be reported), and of course it was not til MUCH later that the gov't does their job. (trying to control myself here and be Christian like!). The 17 year old we find out, her case was not as simple as "meeting someone on the internet." AND it seems that her father knew about. Unfortunately, there are more and more cases of poor young girls being used to make money for their family (another story on its own and DON'T get me started!!).
The 14yr old, she does have a GREAT gov't social worker, that I will say. This worker cared enough to call us (ok....tearing up here) and tell us...."Deana, it is has taken a turn for the worse, not what we thought. Her mom lied to all of us and made her daughter lie."***sigh***I don't know who I am more mad at.....the adult relative who did this to a special needs girl or to her mom who ignored it and had her lie!!!!!
We have never run into cases like these, and then BOOM! two at one time. Though one thing Alexia said to me "maybe God is showing us there is a need for another home". We know where the two girls are being kept at, it is a home with the gov't. They have 12 beds and right now 13 girls.......where as we have 8 beds and now down to 2 girls.........nice eh?.........so don't want to get started on that!!

That was the saddened part. The encouraged part was yesterday afternoon, a local pastor came to talk to me (well, Luke is not here) about our church being a spot for "teenager welfare"....well, not welfare as we think in the USA. Let's see (after 15yrs in Taiwan, my brain doesn't function well in English!).......it will be a small center of sorts for teens. We can have classes of all kinds but it will be a place where teens come to and we go and care about them. I am really excited!!!! Then guess what....RIGHT after the pastor left.....a former foster daughter came up on her bike walked in and hugged me!!!"Hi mommy!" ***sniff sniff*** after being with us for 3 years (had rough times, rough love), she stops by. She is still in gov't care due to some circumstances. She really wants to come back and live with us, but that is not possible. BUT she will start transitioning to dormitory for school and so that is great!!!! we have more freedom to visit her and bring her to church on Sundays....I am really excited about that!!

People will call us crazy....I call myself crazy!!....... but we just do as God leads.....no one ever said following God's will will be easy, nor did anyone say you will be rich........nope.....Satan attacks via relationships, health, finances.......you know.......pray for us as we follow God's lead. It would be great to have another missionary couple or even a native couple standing beside us. We need extra help...........where is it? pray for hearts to be burdened to come and minister to Taiwan in unusual ways:-)

Rejoicing in HIM.....

Today, I was able to finally find some quiet time with the Lord. I will be quite honest and tell you that unfortunately, this has been rare lately. It seems like Satan always finds something to distract me, and well, I fall easily. But so thankful that today I was reading in Psalms 4 and 5 and read this (though I'd like to put all of it up, I will spare you, go read it yourself:p): ¹¹But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
For some of you, you might understand why this is so special. It was a great reminder today to keep trusting in HIM and HIM alone! And how to keep trusting? by rejoicing, be joyful...shout for joy!!! God defends us, why should we be afraid.

We have had some situations lately. I will be honest, it has been hard when someone, whether a moron doctor or a freshout of college social worker picks on a momma. We recently have had a few mommas that are underage. Due to their age, the gov't here labels it as "s3x abuse" and on behalf of the "child" (momma) try to find and press charges. I so agree and understand that, I do, really. BUT why is it that they do nothing at the time of the report? they do not see if the momma is getting prenatals, or her environment is safe and healthy.........why do they wait til 2-3 weeks AFTER baby is born to start the process? just for DNA? seriously people.

We have our mommas a short time. We not only work on the physical and spiritual side of things,but habits. We had one momma who never had a mom, her dad and brothers, well you get the point. Female hygeine was never taught, she never had a mother. Praise the Lord while here some of her habits have changed. Not only that, she was here only a month and people have noticed a change in her. She is happy and sharing and really starting to think!!! Now she instead of putting things behind her and moving forward, she has to be put back in time. I am rather annoyed............NO.ONE.MESSES.WITH.MY.MOMMAS!!!!

We are hopefully going to start our fundraiser soon. So if you know of any companies who are interested in donating equipement (laptop, ipod;p, kindle, books, jewelry,etc.) anything, please contact me and I will put you to the right person.

We are also working on our framed art and tshirts......so keep watching!! (for the life of me I cannot get this smaller!!! sorry!!!) look below please:


The framed art is as follows: $35US/framed art not including shipping

Choose:
1. Taiwan print to be in : Hakka, Minnan, aborigine (name the tribe)
2. Top left corner to say: Taiwan or family names in Chinese, or family surname
3. Bottom right corner to say: Hakka,Minnan, aborigine tribe, or family surname, or just Taiwan

**the picture above has 1: Hakka print 2.family names 3. Taiwan

Please email me about your order, we have already gotten lots of requests!!!

getting back at it....

Well, I see it has been awhile since I wrote. Let's see, since then, there has been two youth camps (our family went to one and only dh and ds1 went to the other), and many many other things that I wish I could on about here, I can't. But, nevertheless, we can say, things have been exciting!!

Next week we have our first of two meetings for our association. Morning Light Home Association will give us more freedom in fundraising and doing some other community projects for families without too much gov't eyes. While we totally understand the gov't need to be involved, we minister in an area that they don't want the affects of it to be public. Does that make sense? Way back when attempting to start all this, we had the name "unwed mother's home" in our title. We found out later that that was not approved, yet they didn't come out and tell us, it was one of those things that they felt they didn't need to tell us.

I often feel like we are a "bad" dream to the gov't here. First, we are doing a work that they don't want to get involved in. Simple. Unwed mother's to them, are low in society. Social workers have been quoted as saying "if the mom is young, unmarried, pregnant and low income, I will only suggest abortion."-.-  That says alot doesn't it. Funny how the gov't knows what we are doing and social workers will say to a momma "go find Deana Pan at this number and address, if she can't help you then come back to us."LOL!!! At times I think they feel we will quickly go away. BUT they can say that in the last two years, they have had less than 5 abandoned babies. We work with the moms and she has a responsibility.

God is so wonderful to us. Each time we feel tired, exhausted, look at the lack of $$, God in HIS goodness shows us at the right time something else. This month alone (yes, I know we are not through July yet) we have counseled at least 2 moms a week. Some are sad stories and really put you into reality.  God is showing us, this is why you are here My child. There are women in need, women in crisis, women who say I don't know what to do, no one wants to listen to me, I can't tell my family I am pregnant............the list goes on. As we minister as God wants us to, in other areas, God is bringing up families and friends who are supporting us through material and financial needs. Our financial needs are great, there is no question about that. But God is letting us know little by little that HE is in control. We need to keep our focus on the ONE who holds tomorrow.

At times I have been afraid to post things. I am not one who is going to post baby pictures or momma pictures. I will though tell their stories. I had not posted because I know that there are people who feel they need to be our enemies. But God has been leading me, letting me realize...........All things work together for good to them that love him.....We rely on a God that owns the cattle on a thousand hills....He could sell a few and we would be fine:-).....really, all that to say..........I hope to share more as time allows. God is good, all is done for HIS glory, not done through me but through our mighty Savior Jesus Christ!!!!

WHAT A WEEK!!!

but not complaining.....I love seeing families together!! I love sitting and chatting and hearing all that God has done for their adoption and all they have learned about their faith via adoption. They love hearing stories of moms and how God is using MLH/CPC in lives here and about the burden God is giving us.

It is things like this that give us encouragement. For our team to see the baby in his/her parents arms, the joy, the tears, the laughter.......how refreshing it is!!

There is a fundraiser blog at:  http://livinghopetaiwan.blogspot.com/  so please check it out. This blog will stay because as we get more and more ministries, it will be more and more of our family and ministry together. The other one will be fundraiser blog. I was informed that the group Calling Levi has already sent cd's and t-shirts for fundraiser drawing!! YEAH!!! we have some more coming....if you have anything or know of someone who can help in sending it out, let us know!! The more money we have the more we can serve!!

We have a name for our baby center: Garden of Grace....I can't wait to share all about it. We have volunteer teens for the summer and just had a rundown of everything. So excited!!! GOD IS WORKING!!!

Stay tuned!!

The countdown

Well, it is Saturday. Sometime this morning, Luke, Joshua and Jeremiah will put our center banner on the front of the church. I wonder if this will bring more attention to the center. Previously we were in an alley, so not like people saw it all the time. Prayers that this will allow those moms who need to see it, to see it. The great thing is: it is 5 blocks from the hospital. While the hospital does not prefer to do abortions, it does first trimester abortions. Who knows, someone might see it and think. That hospital knows us, so we are going to ask about putting up our posters in the ob/gyn section.....prayers please!! any lives we can save!!!

I am nervous.....we don't know how many to expect for Monday morning. Alexia says 20-30....AHHHH!!!.... I have to get up and go through our power point about what is a crisis pregnancy center, who we minister and why...Wuli has the rest:-).

We also have to have our "plans" for the 6months for the gov't. Well, I. DON'T. KNOW!!! We would like to have a speaker from another CPC come and do some teaching in our area......we would like to have someone come and talk about post abortion counseling.

We are starting Morning Light Assoicaition. This will help tremendously as that will allow us to do fundraisers here in Taiwan. So we can fundraise for Hagar's House and/or our babycenter. We will see how God leads.

We see God doing so much. Walking by faith is not easy, but it is the safest. It is a spiritual battle right now. I have read some recently in Proverbs and it talks alot about not envying the rich, watching your mouth (ok, that is my rough translation) and the like......alot seem to point to the situation at hand and say "do what you are doing, don't be mean, just trust in God for HIS riches are more than you will ever know."

So, we will keep going. Please pray for Monday (we have alot to clean up now at church!) and pray that this week we can minister to at least one new mom.....just one new mom......that is our prayer.....will you pray for that too? I will let you know when we meet her:-)

And so it goes.....

Well, we made it through a year! God has been good by leading us through our trials and fears and showing us HIS promise of never leaving us is always true.

The past weeks have been rather exhausting, emotionally and physically! Really, when you are emotionally down, it wears you down physically. Between the heat and moving, blah!! yesterday, well, I felt like a walking zombie (hopefully didn't look like one!!).

As it happens, RARELY MIND YOU, a momma did not show up for adoption court date. Wuli had been trying to contact her, we even sent her train tickets! yet, no show. I apologized to the judge and she understood as our moms are normally on time and very cooperative. The judge made another court date and all we can do it keep on the mom to come. She hasn't answered our phone calls though.

Why? I don't know. Her reasons could be numerous. I understand her 3yr old was sick and that could be it. Her dad was just diagnosed as being a vegetable, she could be upset about that. Could be she doesn't want to face the fact of adoption. Lots and lots of reasons and could be's. But I do know that no matter what, she needs your prayers!! All of our moms do. Could you stop and pray for moms in the program today? Unfortunately I don't have the freedom to tell you how many and what not, but pray for the moms being counseled by MLH. They are in crisis, struggling with decisions and over all just needing the extra support. So today, pray for the mommas and their hearts!

On a better note......we have fundraisers in the works!! Two or three musical groups are donating cd's for our fundraiser!!! so stay tuned!!! all are going to keep the cpc ministry going!!!soooooooo........if you know of anyone else who wants to help or can help.....let me know.....keep an eye out!!

Movin' on Up!!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011


On the move!!!

There are only a few things that are scheduled (baby appointments and such), but other than that, it is a rare quiet time that we can use to move. The walls are looking bare and boxes are everywhere (hey that rhymed!), and the move begins. I really despise moving.....



We have reached an agreement to finish out somethings with our previous sponsor, though what we thought were things that we could continue to use for the ministry, they have said they will give us a date or two when they want them back. Those items were purchased not donated. So, families who thought their fees were helping the ministry, it only helped to a certain point. Sad, but if they feel like that must be done to make them feel better, I know our God owns a cattle on a thousands hills......HE WILL PROVIDE!!!



This has all been very testing. I will be honest again and say how discouraging it has been and how tiring it has been. There have been times where it is like "what do I do? what do I do?" Trying to keep from making emotional decisions are quite hard for women!! I want to make decisions that God wants us to make.



Yesterday though, as I was cleaning out things, I found something that Luke made for me after I got back from my first trip to Taiwan. We were not "boyfriend/girlfriend" yet, but he sent me a calligraphy of my favorite verses, Isaiah 43:1, 2 "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. "



Maybe it was God reassuring me? I don't know. That frame is sitting in my office now. I found comfort in that first as a freshman at Bob Jones University when our family doctor did test and it said that I had cancer of the lymphnodes. THOUGH at surgery, it was a staph infection (doesn't God have a sense of humor!) But that verse brought special comfort to me then and it still does now.



Recent events have given our staff the feeling that we were drowning, physically and emotionally. All the decisions to make, how will it affect the ministry, where will we get the money, will we have food on our tables this month? etc......money suddenly dropped is no laughing matter. But again and again, God brings that verse in Isaiah to me. Along with I Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." God does not give us more than we can bear, we may not think we can bear it, but we were never asked to bear it alone, and better yet, God has an escape plan:-)...



So, as we go on our next chapter in our ministry to women, please be with us in prayer about our needs. Fitting that this all comes about as our 1yr anniversary shows up!!!



"To God be the glory, great things He has done!"

So much to think about....

I will be quite frank and say that this past week has been very discouraging. Satan has used more than one way to eat away at me and the whole staff!! In the course of 7 days: Jeremiah (our only man at the office, he is maintenance, driver, helps with outreaches, body guard  on long travels or court cases, etc!) has a 3 yr old daughter who fell while playing with her brother and ended up in the ER. She had a humungous gash in her toungue and the doctors only did not due stitches because no one was sure if she would cooperate (I don't think most adults would!!), he ended up eating something bad and has had stomach pains and such for 72hours now, my Noah started his vomitting issues on Tuesday (6/7) and was in the ER for fluids for 8hours,  Alexia was at the ER with her 4yr old due to high fever. Wuli so far has not had any major issues with her family, but she would covet everyone's prayers!! Add that will heat bringing on the attitudes. Everyone anxious just to get the moving over with!!
Yup, we move to the third floor of the church over the course of the next few weeks. Praise God we have found some second hand stuff for it. Unfortunately, what we thought were donations or help for the ministry eneded up not being quite what we expected. So we were told that over time, those things "purchased" with their money we either had to give back or we could buy them back. Well, since we are nonprofit too and money is not just sitting their waiting for us to spend, we figure we will give a big hunk back and then go from there. We did have someone say that they would see that we got 3 window unit a/c so I am really praying!! We will definetly be loosing some weight through sweating though!!!

Sometimes when we look at the whole picture, as humans tend to do, it is so discouraging! I have to loook to see how am I going to pay my staff, pay rent and utilities for the momma's home this month. Yes, MLH/CPC now has to find a way to pay for those so we can continue to service women in crisis. We cannot count on it from someplace in the USA as before.

This also puts everyone a bit on edge. Everyone needs to eat and pay bills. Everyone has sat and talked about what to expect and what to do. Words cannot express how thankful I am to our Lord for the team HE has brought to me! We discuss everything openly and freely. It is not my team and my ministry (as someone falsely accused me of saying), but God's. It is because of it being God's that we are where we are at now.....so, the issues we have now, maybe they are just crossroads in this journey of serving our Lord. One thing we know, our Lord does know where the roads are headed and that is comforting. Of course, if He would give me and idea of what is going on that would be helpful:-)  

Please keep us in prayer. Pray for wisdom, endurance, strength and ability!! Pray for funds to come in in a timely manner. We need roughly $8000US/month to keep it going!

Young Moms

Today Wuli and I travelled a total of 5.5hrs, roundtrip, to visit a mom. She is 18yrs old and just delivered. Her aunt called us to ask for help. First, we are so thankful that they heard from us via an Ob/Gyn clinic! We had sent over 100 letters to clinics up and down the east coast with our brochures and news about what we do and all. So thankful that this doctor gave them the information.

First, the mom's mom and aunt met with us. Their decision is pretty much set, but after a bit, the momma came down. She delivered yesterday afternoon. At first, she just sat there starting at the table, wiping away the tears that fled down her swollen cheeks. Her aunt and mom tried to get her to talk,but she wouldn't. She wants baby. She feels the family SHOULD take care of it and all live happily ever after (ok, that part was me being sarcastic!).  She did not finish highschool, was working some, but at her age, she could only make 1/3 of what regular minimum wage is. Her mom is a widower, her older brother a police officer. She is the only girl in the family, as in the relatives. AKA....spoiled and did what she wanted to. Boy's family, divorced and both parents remarried, married and divorced, a few times each! He never attempted highschool. She commented he couldn't come visit her because he has forgotten to check in with his probation officer so was locked up (he is 17rys old!).
We got to a point where it was obvious she was not going to talk, nor was she about to be given a chance. I engaged her aunt and mom in small talk while Wuli, who was sitting directly across from her talked to her. In the end, she was continuing to say she wanted to keep baby. She seems to have it all figured out. Wuli gave her her name card and she refused. Tears were flowing and anger and bitterness were setting in.

Our center's goal is and has never been adoption. When dealing with unwed mother's we will have the unwanted babies. Our first opinion is that babies and moms stay together, that is what is natural and what should happen. After counseling and their own personal evaluation, the decision that is made is respected. Our work is to make sure they have the proper information to make wise decisions and resources available to help them with their decision. That is who we are and what we are called to.

Please pray for this momma. We do not know what the final decision is, we do not know if we will even hear from them again. But we showed them that we cared, and the adults could see that. We told them that we just want to show the unconditional love that God has given to us.

We'll see what goes on tomorrow.

It is one of those Mondays.....

We headed off this morning to a high school in Cheng Kung to teach Worth Waiting For. We taught 5 periods, and probably most of the school. I was saddened by the "lack" of innocence in the younger classes. Really, if it was my kid, I would be flabbergasted! But knowing that these kids come from poor backgrounds, and mostly are tribal children, I was not shocked. Knowing that they also probably have never heard the Gospel, was also saddening to us. But we are thankful that we could get the news of us out there and different areas via internet to reach us.

The school counselor was sharing with us about how alot of boyfriends/girlfriends live together. Unfortunately, that did not shock us either. Sometimes, I am saddened that these are no longer "shocking" things to me.  It seems like it is happening more and more in the society here. I really do not know what to say at times other than, I am not suprised.

We are so excited, there are some grants that we seem to qualify for. So please keep us in your prayers that we can get them. We will need funding. I hope to get a chipin button done soon, but am at a loss as to how much to start with!  There have been many of you who have already given generously and we are so thankful. We also have so many plans in our brains.

First, this week we meet with a new mom, please pray for her. We are hopefully moving our center out soon. We will be moving to the 3rd floor of our church, saving $350US in rent!! hopefully though, that will allow us to have more activities as well. So much going on. The church needs some redoing too, so that will take some time.

Well, hoepfully I can write some more at another time. This blog will be open soon, but I wish I could still see who sees it! But, oh well, we know that we want this blog to reach those who need to see it.

Thank you for your prayers again!! keep them coming in!

BIRTHDAY BASH!!!

Well, if you followed us on FB, you will see we started out the "cry" for "1st birthday" funds. I will be putting a ticker up soon for Birthday Bash funds. We are hoping to raise some money to cover the costs of things. We will be moving our center to another place soon as well, ok, our church!! 3rd floor, so that is going to need some help, but I think we got that covered. We are excited, yet nervous about what is going to be instor for us. So much to do.

So, how much do you think we should try to raise for the "1st birthday bash"? also, should it be throughout the summer? I am coming on to this a bit late....so....we'll see...... suggestions?

what to do...

Well, first, I want to say that we have been so encouraged with gifts that have come in here and there for the ministry. There have been somethings that God has used to talk to us, well, at least to me about and emphasize somethings.
As I write this, I am totally exhausted, feeling rather tired and dizzy. Not sure why, though I know that this week holds some special work that needs to be done. It seems like due to some recent events, we have to start this ministry all over again from scratch. But what does that entail? will we have the resources to do that? Who to talk to? where to go? what to do?
This blog will very soon go public. It will be a mix of family and ministry, though we will try to be mainly focused on ministry. We have to get the news out there about resources needed for our work. You all will soon enough hear news, so I am not going to "blow" it:-). Though in Taiwan, the Ministry of Interior is wanting to change the adoption status, meaning, emphasizing domestic. Ministry of Interior has stated that they have plans to have their new regulations made into law to go into affect January 1, 2012. If that does happen, we no longer do adoptions. Ministry of Interior wants to control everything, even those who do domestic and international adoptions. It is sad that no one is considering the children in Taiwan. Taiwan regulations want to keep ONLY healthy infants in Taiwan and the rest go international. That will cause a number of problems, but the main ones I see are: Taiwan society doing away with special needs children or making them an outcast, and what defines special needs (currently ADHD children are special needs). There are lots of things that the gov't has not set up yet, and just wants to go with it. So, this will need lots of prayer!

Here at MLH/CPC, adoption has never been our first ministry. It has been and will always be to the women in need, women in crisis. So, with adoptions soon to be out of the picture, that leaves us without resources. That sounds bad, but everyone knows our resources were coming because of the "donations" via adoptions. So we need to show others around Taiwan that our needs are for women in crisis. Crisis means alot of things to everyone. Crisis pregnancy could be due to age, special needs, health obstacles, number of children, finances, etc. But one thing for sure is that women in crisis pregnancy NEED love and support no matter what. So, that is our goal.
MLH/CPC is soon to be one year old. We are looking to raise money for rent and needs for the cpc and home. We have new future goals, new plans. We also have God on our side. I am excited about what is coming, but I can't share right now. God is working. God can work through you and your community. Please be praying about the future and what you can do.

Ok,  I need to get off here, but hopefully these next few weeks I can write more. Thank you all for your prayers!!
****PS...we just got a phone call from an 18yr old,please pray for her!

Life is a gift....

This is something we all know. Yet, some people take it for granted, ok, alot of people! A quote from Mother Teresa " It's poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." That is something that we really face alot in this ministry. The selfishness of human nature. Weeks ago we had a call from a group that helps single mothers. The social worker asked if we could do pre abortion counseling. Sure! Not a problem! She was so happy because another organization had told her "no! if the client wishes to abort, it is not your position to change her mind, that is against work ethics!" This social worker went on to tell us, the client's boyfriend WANTED the baby, but the 25yr old young lady said "I don't want to give up my job to take care of a baby." That hurt so much. Selfishness. This young momma never showed up to the appointment the social worker set. We don't know if she aborted or not. Selfishness.

We recently have had a 37yr old lady (weird when clients are the same age as you!!) with a great job. She has found herself pregnant and alone. Her boyfriend has left have hearing of her being pregnant. At 37yr of age, she wants to keep her baby. YEAH!! But her biggest fear? Telling her parents. She is not sure how they will take it. She is keeping her job til she gives birth. She will have alot of mouth from coworker I bet. She is coming to our dr for prenatals, but she lives OUT of county. Yes, she travels here by train for her prenatals. Sad that such a happy time should be such a time of keeping secrets.

Please pray with us as we minister to these moms. There is alot ahead, alot of what needs to be done. Some don't get it. Call us "saints" or "wonderful people" and the such. If everyone just helped one person, think of how many people we could be helping? Instruments of God, that is all we are, instruments in the hands of the Master.

Please pray for our Respect Life Rally on 5/14~

Really don't know what to put in the titles....

anyone else have that problem? I don't know how to title my posts because the posts tend to ramble and skip around.

I have been reading Kay Arthur's book "As Silver Refined: Learning to Embrace Life's Disappointments" and wow, I am learning so much. It seems we get so disappointed in things at times, that we don't see it as it is: a trap from Satan.


There have been things going on here locally due to people's jealousy and insecurity, but most of all, sinful hearts. In the ministry, there is always a spiritual battle. We have a newer coworker, though not new to us, but to this work. We told his wife, be prepared, Satan will try to attack your marriage and your family. Sure enough, something has happened. Disappointment set in. But I was ever so thankful that I could share (AFTER calming down and sleeping/praying about the situation!) that the Bible tells us "God never fails us" God never leaves us, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and HE delighteth in HIS way." A number of nannies are pretty mad at what has happened as well. But I have reminded them, yes, these people who are going around Taitung defaming character, trying to ruin the testimony of the ministry, but God has HIS purpose. Are we angry? yes and no. No: because I know the people doing this don't have Christ in their hearts, no because if I allowed myself to be angry and focus on it, then my life would be extremely miserable and I would have no energy to do anything else. YES: because they are ruining the name and family of God, YES because I really don't want to deal with it:-) 


My team is awesome. When these things started, it was really emotionally exhausting. But, we have the ministry God has called us to and to be exhuasted emotionally in uneccessary issues is not that ministry! We will keep going forward as God has called us to. We know that Satan will keep trying to discourage us and get us down. But we cannot and will not let that cause a downward spiral for us in the ministry or our lives. We have kept quiet. We don't go around bad mouthing, gossiping, looking for ways to cause these people trouble. If we wanted to, we could very easily. God has the victory, why worry? why get involved in something that is not glorifying to the ministry? God has called us to do alot, and well, I just don't have time for Satan's problems. Though, fiery darts....they hurt, they burn. As the book described "if an arrow has only punctured at skin level, you can just pull it out. But if it has penetrated through the muscle, you have to cut around to pull it out." How has disappointment set in? We want to keep the wounds on the top layers of the skin, not down to the muscle. Pulling it out is going to hurt either way, but one heals easier than the other. One causes less damage than the other. How have you allowed Satan's arrows to penetrate?


What is awesome is that a person who has heard things, they will let us know in some way how they support the ministry we have! We have had, numerous times, others email or call or stop us and say, "You know so and so is saying this? but we want to let you know, we can see the truth! God will keep you going! We are praying for you." WOW!! yeah, that helps alot!


So, how can we be angry when God works things like that out? "Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things thou knowest not!" PRAISE GOD WE SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR!!!

Today....

I get to spend the night tonight at the momma's home. I will be teaching a craft as well. I am excited. We are looking to teach macrame plant hangers! I am not talented, but I can do a few knots. We can also use those knots to make the straps for our bags we are going to do (going to do is the key phrase there). The knots we can make little key chains.....really unlimited possibilities here. We hope to be able to sell some at the 5/14 activity as well as on line, and adoptive families can buy some in the future as well.:-)

Tomorrow we are going to attempt to make chocolate candies. We have molds, but going to work on doing the chocolates.

I like to use these times as "therapy" with the moms. There is so much to do to keep them busy really. As it goes "idle hands are the devils workshop." I see it as more along the lines of "idle minds". Our current counselor has been allowed too much freedom and the girls use the computer alot or watch tv. It is sad. We are a Christian home that wants to be different! I like to use these times to talk and chat with moms, such a relaxing time. This is the "family" time we like to talk about.

So,pray that for each knot we make, the moms hearts will open up. Each knot they tie in the string, will release a knot in their heart.

our new momma

Ah Wen is moving in on the 14th. She is 21yr old and has already had 4 abortions. She goes to her first prenatal exam on the 13th. Her younger sister was our first momma. We really need prayers for Ah Wen. I have spoken with her and explained to her how she needs to take it easy til she is about week 12. Her body has been used to "getting rid of baby" and so her body might naturally do this. She understands. Though her thoughts are to keep baby. She is really immature. She feels that her family will accept this baby because it will be a playmate for her sister's baby. She assumes that mom (aka. grandmom) will keep baby while she works, just like her sister. Her boyfriend feels getting married is just some ritual, you don't REALLY need to get married to have a family. *sigh* we have our work cut out!

This week one of the moms and I did crafts. One mom was visiting home and the other was at school. But praise GOD we have someone who is willing to come once a week and teach crafts (now I don't have to 3 times a week!!LOL!).

We are thankful we have a sponsor for Ah Hui who is our senior in highschool. She graduates in May. Her school is great and allowing her arrive and leave at different times since students are asking questions and making her feel uncomfortable. Unfortunately, her dream of marrying the birth father and everyone living happily ever after is not coming true. Ah Hui needs prayers for peace on what to do, alot of decisions for a 17yr old.

Ah Wen and another mom, Ah Juan plan on keeping baby. They will be doing crafts to sell at Respect Life and on a website. I hope to show you some soon. We hope to do somethings for adpotive families as well. These two moms will need sponsors during their stay at MLH.

God is working! we have been keeping at least 4 moms in there at one time for some time now. But our counselor is getting married in June, that leaves us needing a counselor to stay at nights. Please pray we can figure something out. Anyone know of someone who wants to be a counselor at nights for unwed moms?:-)


Pray with us as we minister to these moms that they may see their needs to change into the image of our Lord. Then as they start a new life in HIM, their lives will be changed forever!
But we with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (II Cor. 3:18)

GREAT NEWS!!

Thanks to facebook, we have 7 of the 15 tents sponsored, possibly one more. I will get on the campaign to get all sponsored:-). This will be such a great help to the ministry. Our mommas are going to be working on chocolates to sell that day:p...we will have fun experimenting the next few weeks!!LOL!

If you need information on sponsoring a tent (though many of you here have already said you would sponsor one), here it is:

If you need a tax receipt for this, you will need to send it to our mission agency in the USA. They send us our support the end of the month, so it would need to be there by the 20th I am guessing.


CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE

P.O. Box 219228 - Houston, Texas 77218-9228

**make a check out to the agency with a note in the enveloped stating that it is for Morning Light Home (they are kind enough to separate the accounts for us)

****you MAY send through AGCI but you need to specify what it is for, for MLH Respect Life Day. We send our expenses on the 20th of each month and they send a check usually before the end of the month. So you would need to do it soon if you sending it through AGCI.

If you don't need a tax receipt, you can either paypal me (deanapan@yahoo.com) or you can send a check to my parents and they will directly deposit in our USA bank account and we can get it out here.

Morning Light Home

2509 Naamans Rd.

Wilmington, DE 19810



Thank you again for this gift. What a great help and encouragement to the whole team here!!

I got a weird phone call last night!

Out of the clear blue, our FIRST mom to ever live at MLH called me. After saying "long time no see", she asked me how many moms were at MLH. I told her 3 or 4. She asked me if we could take one more. I joked and said "who you?" she said "I am pregnant." I about died!! then she realized the dramatic pause was not funny and said "NO NO NO I am just joking!" I reminded her that I was not young and that jokes like that are not funny.
She went on to say that her older sister was pregnant though. *sigh* I know this sister a bit. She has had probably about 4 or 5 abortions. She has had a very "interesting" life shall we say. She was told by so  many that she would never be able to have a baby because of her lifestyle and numerous abortions. So, this time, at 21yr old and now pregnant, she feels "I have to have this baby." I asked about the boyfriend. "He is not one that can be counted on." I plain out told her "you all are going to put your momma in an early grave!" I was half rebuking half joking.
Their family is dysfunctional. Parents divorced, but living together. Her 7th grade brother was all but thrown in jail for sexual harrassment, so you can imagine the attitude from him. Thankfully, Patty is back in school and studying. We keep up with her. For that I am so thankful.
Patty came to us at age 15yr old. She had already had a forced abortion and was determined to deliver this baby. She was our first mom, with almost nothing there at the home. I was the counselor, only staff (for baby and mommas) for most of the time she was there. She turned 16yr old right before her birthday. We had her first ever birthday party for her. We have seen her on and off. If she sees us out in public, she will come running up to us and chat. She is as sweety. Her parents though forced her to keep the baby as a reminder of "what she did" and so it won't happen again.
Now this. I told her that we have rules! Church is required! No running off and all....she says she knows and she told her sister all about it. She said something that made me kinda want to cry "I told her that if anyone can help her, Shr Mu (that's me in Chinese) can help." I am thankful that through the fusses (think hormonal teen girl!)and fun she can still think of us and what help we can give. PRAISE GOD!!
Her sister might come to church tomorrow and talk with me. But, we are starting to think "post abortion syndrome"classes are going to be important in our work now. Pray Pray Pray that we can help this mom, whether she keeps baby or not. She can stay with us, we can work with her. She is having many emotional issues right now, as expected when a post abortion woman is pregnant again, no matter how many times.

We may need a supporter for her. Again, I will let you know, but $175/month is the amount needed for a mom. This is really half of what it costs, but we are working with AGCI to keep support coming. AGCI is very supportive of the ministry to women in crisis here.

Please pray. I hope I can let you all know tomorrow what happens!